A busy weekend.

My week off work is almost over. What do I have to show for it?

You'd think with all the lovely new fabric scraps I've acquired recently I'd have made a start at least on a new scrappy quilt top. Or put together some more crumb blocks for the latest squirrel. Alas no, I've been occupied with other things.

 I've been baking and preserving.

The hunt for a bar of chocolate led to a big turf out in the pantry on the very first day off, and from there the clean and sort continued through various parts of the house.

My collection of empty jars was sorted and some were given away as I realised I had far too many.

The shelf where I keep my recipe books was sorted and tidied, all the printed out recipes were put away into the ring binder and I managed to find a few that I had misplaced.

Even my lap top moved. I usually sit at the dining room table with it, but my Chiropractor says that is the wrong place and is causing lots of issues for me. So I've moved it, to my swing room, it's sharing the desk with my sewing machine....

So I had to sort out a shelf in the cupboard/wardrobe to keep my books and study notes on.

Of course the arrival of the latest bag of scraps stopped the big tidy up and I spent some time sorting, trimming and pressing scraps.

On Saturday Tony convinced me I should take a day off and rest. So I did.  I looked in to my room and was not inspired, (I blame the lap top, it's in the way.....). So next I wandered back in to the sitting room and my cross stitch almost jumped off my sewing cabinet and demanded attention.  According to my diary, I haven't touched it since 31st January, and you can see where I left it in the image below.

My Brother used to serve in Her Majesties British Army and this is his regimental badge.

Saturday was a good day. I didn't sit down to stitch until after lunch. I took the usual pit stops and helped Tony to make tea, then continued to stitch in to the evening.

Although it doesn't look like much I feel like I made significant progress.

Cross stitchers among you will understand the term Confetti Stitching.

There are four shades of yellow, that change every 4 to 9 stitches. It felt like I was spending more time changing threads than I was actually stitching!

 I did try counting my way over to the next patch of the shade I was using.....

After the second time I ripped it out because I had mis counted, I gave up on that idea and went back to changing threads every few stitches. I think I finally put it down at about 10.30 pm. 

I did think I might get back to my stitching yesterday. (Sunday). 

But something more exciting came along. While Tony and I were busy in the garden we received a phone call.

Would we look after Torstein while Mummy and Daddy go fishing?

We do see the whole family quite often, but this is the first time we've been asked to look after the little man. All alone, without Mum or Dad being present.

We were not sure how he would react to that.

No problem. He waved goodbye to his mum, then turned around and walked in to the house.

His toys were already out and waiting for him, so he got stuck right in.

Fabric is not the only thing I have scored at the op shop recently. 

While I was out with Debbie a couple of weeks ago I found a big bag of building blocks for $5. I snapped those up. When I got home and did some research, to buy them new would have been $45NZ

What a score!

Grandad and Torstein had fun with them.

Mummy and daddy came back  five hours later, tired and with no fish, but they were just in time to have Roast chicken with us, and some sweet corn cobs from the garden.

Of course Torstein and Grandad had ice cream too.

After all that fun and excitement I was too tired to stitch, so I had a glass of wine and an early night instead. 

Two more days before I have to return to work mode.

Today I plan to stitch.

Or maybe I will sew.

First, I think I might get dressed, as I'm still in my PJs.

LOL

I wonder if there is enough chicken left to make a pie for Grandads lunch?

I hope you had a great weekend.